They say that everything is bigger in Texas, but there are many Texan hotels that maintain an intimate feel, despite their state’s reputation. The Statler is one of them. With 159 rooms and 219 apartments (down from the 1,001 guest rooms that were in place when it was first established), this hotel offers personalized service and a swanky, retro ambiance that stays faithful to its downtown Dallas location.
According to Historic Hotels of America, of which the Statler is a member, the hotel opened in 1956 and was the first building to have elevator music (which, fun fact, was made to calm fearful first-time elevator passengers). In keeping with their proclivity for innovation, the Statler hosted Tony Bennet, Liberace, the Jackson 5, and other superstars in their Grand Ballroom. The hotel cost $16 million to build and was the largest convention facility in the South when it was founded.
My journey to the Statler, in an accidental nod to its history, came about because of a convention as well. I decided to attend the AAHOA conference at the last minute, and all the hotels in their “block” were sold out… so I decided to do some Googling. There were a few cute options in the area, but what struck me about the Statler was its bathtub. I saw that they offered freestanding, massive soaking tubs in their bathrooms and I was sold.
There is something incomparably serene about slipping into a hot body of water. Maybe it’s the cleansing power of water itself, maybe it’s that sinking into a tub replicates the womb, or maybe it’s that the all-encompassing warmth is just that comfortable. Whatever the case, I couldn’t wait to take a bubble bath in the Statler’s majestic bathtub. And when that tub is deeper than reading Socrates after an edible, it makes the endeavor all the more exciting. Soaking tubs really are as excellent as they look.
When you reach the hotel itself, you first see a light yellow Chevy convertible greeting you upon arrival. It’s a sunny and friendly flicker of color and style that sets the tone for your stay, and you feel somewhat transported by its antiquity. The lobby has a mid-century modern design, peppered with neon features and more bright relics. They have a breakfast and lunch spot and restaurant/bar that are adjacent, which were both quite lively (but not so much so that you had to wait in line).
Their pool that is reserved solely for hotel guests was unfortunately closed when I visited, but their other rooftop pool, “Waterproof,” was open. Located on the 19th floor and featuring blaring Top 40 music, it definitely targets a party crowd. It gets packed on weekend nights, though was empty when I visited for the first time, right when it opened at around 11AM. I was looking for something a little more quiet, so I went back to read from my room, which had plenty of space to relax in.
The room itself was large enough to accommodate a remote workday — the table comfortably fit two armchairs and the windows brought in significant amounts of natural light. The bright white and taupe aesthetic fit with the airy, retro vibe.
Despite the charming bedroom itself, the bathroom managed to upstage it. In addition to that soaking tub, it was massive enough to accommodate a sink large enough for even a celebrity’s toiletry collection, an overhead shower, and a separate room for the toilet – all made private and discreet by darkened glass. The color contrast with the bedroom kept things interesting, too.
I indulged and ordered room service – a bottle of rose champagne and poached eggs – which were fabulous. Service here in general was exceptional. They texted with guests using the number I provided at check-in to ask if I needed anything (I asked for and received a bathrobe, of course), and were ever ready to open the door or assist.
The Statler paradoxically feels both nostalgic and modern, with its fresh retro decor transporting you into some alternate universe where the past was actually a pleasant thing, and the strains of modern life become irrelevant… but with all the amenities intact. Almost as if the yellow Chevy is the car from Back to the Future ready to bring you not just to a new time, but a parallel world… where everything is different. Buckle up.